Speaking of Smith Archives

What can Adam Smith teach us about the moral economy of sanctioning oligarchs?

April 12, 2022

Smith posited that there is a moral economy in trade, not just an economic one. We learn what kinds of behaviors are acceptable as we engage in both conversational and material exchange with others.

Dear Adam Smith: An Uncollegial Colleague

April 9, 2022

Colleagues Behaving Badly? Adam Smith Suggests Self-Command

Searching for Adam Smith in Serbia – A Personal Story

April 4, 2022

Had my grandfather only been lucky enough to experience Adam Smith’s system of natural liberty, our family history might look very different.

The Women of the Smith Questionnaire

March 29, 2022

The Smith Questionnaire is a fun way to learn about Adam Smith and those who study and enjoy him. As Women's History month wraps up, take 5-10 minutes to learn a little more from the women of the Smith Questionnaire.

Just Sentiments—Welcome!

March 23, 2022

Do Not Take Peace For Granted

March 22, 2022

Adam Smith wrote about international relations, national defense and military strategy in both The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations. Smith believed in the critical importance of nations’ good relations (diplomacy), strong communication and mutually beneficial trade as institutions necessary for the growth and prosperity.

Jane Austen's Theory of Moral Sentiments: The Failed Speculator in Persuasion

March 17, 2022

Jane Austen isn’t the first name that comes to mind when we think of capitalism, the Industrial Revolution, or the moral side of the pursuit of wealth. But the England in which she lived and wrote her six extraordinary novels was deeply affected by the economic and social changes that Smith described in The Wealth of Nations. In this final post, I turn to an interrogation of rationality and the limits of our ability to predict the future, especially the economic future, and the necessity of living with our failed speculations.

Jane Austen's Theory of Moral Sentiments: Pride, Prejudice, and Prudence

March 16, 2022

Jane Austen isn’t the first name that comes to mind when we think of capitalism, the Industrial Revolution, or the moral side of the pursuit of wealth. But the England in which she lived and wrote her six extraordinary novels was deeply affected by the economic and social changes that Smith described in The Wealth of Nations. In this 2nd post, we'll explore that triumph and tragedy of Charlotte Lucas.

Jane Austen's Theory of Moral Sentiments: Sense, Sensibility, and Adam Smith

March 15, 2022

Jane Austen isn’t the first name that comes to mind when we think of capitalism, the Industrial Revolution, or the moral side of the pursuit of wealth. But the England in which she lived and wrote her six extraordinary novels was deeply affected by the economic and social changes that Smith described in The Wealth of Nations. In this series, I’ll explore how several of her characters confront the moral consequences of the pursuit of wealth.

Adam Smith on Women's and Mothers' Roles

March 11, 2022

During Women’s History month is a great time to see what Adam Smith thought about women and their role in the family. Although mostly remembered for his work as an economist one can find insights scattered through his works on gender roles.

Adam Smith, Historian

March 9, 2022

[Smith's works] stand as a prime example of the practice of historical research and writing, as well as the results of intense historical work. Without Smith’s sense and emphasis of history, without his ability to investigate and interrogate the past on its own terms, the Wealth of Nations would have fallen largely flat over the expanse of time since the 18th century. It would have been rooted in nothing more than the Scottish Enlightenment and would have undoubtedly found decay as the world changed.

The Labor Theory of Value Lacks Value

March 8, 2022

If the labor theory of value is correct, profit is a problem rather than a solution. Since profit can only come from exploitation, and exploitation is to be avoided, most endeavors should be neutral if not ending up in the red.